Newry Company Wins £500,000 Contract in Saudi Arabia

Oct 08, 2004

Newry-based McAllister Brothers, a specialist in pipeline technology, has opened a depot in Saudi Arabia to service a £500,000 contract won in the Arabian Gulf state.16/2/2004

The company, which is taking part in the Invest Northern Ireland trade mission to Qatar and Dubai from 14-20 February, has won a contract to help construct part of an oil pipeline being developed by Aramco, one of the world’s biggest oil and gas exploration organisations. McAllister Brothers will use its expertise in trenchless technology to drill pipelines under major highways.

The contract is the Newry company’s first export business and was secured from contacts made during an Invest NI trade mission to Tehran, the Iranian capital, in 2002.

Alan Hingston, Invest NI’s Trade director, welcoming the success of McAllister Brothers, said: “This success in Saudi Arabia, which is among the most exacting and competitive marketplaces, is a further indication that trade missions produce tangible benefits when participating companies do their homework before going and assiduously follow-up contacts and leads made during the visits.

“The forthcoming mission, the biggest ever to the Middle East will enable participating companies to see at first hand the tremendous business opportunities developing rapidly from huge investment in infrastructure and tourism, particularly in Dubai and Qatar. Companies interested in the region are also able to draw on the local knowledge and expertise of Invest NI staff in the Northern Ireland Technology and Development Centre in Dubai.”

Michael McAllister, a director of the Newry company, said: “The Invest NI mission to Iran was invaluable in helping us meet key people in the Gulf oil industry. We were subsequently invited to bid for a substantial contract and were successful. As a result, we decided to set up a depot for our equipment and staff at Al Khobar, near Dammam, last December.

“We have a team there at the moment and more staff are set to join them shortly. Everyone we’ve met there has been extremely helpful and welcoming. We’ve also identified other opportunities for our technology in other sectors as well as oil gas.

“Our experiences in Saudi Arabia have also encouraged us to explore business in neighbouring countries such as Qatar, which has a huge gas industry, and Dubai by taking part in the forthcoming mission,” he added.

McAllister Brothers, which currently employs 58 people, is recognised as a leader in technology for drilling pipelines without having to dig trenches, has developed extensive business in the gas, sewerage and telecommunications industries in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. The company has recently opened an office in Limerick to service the ROI market.

The family-run company has been in business for over 30 years and also offers a range of services including pipeline inspection and sewer cleaning.

Northern Ireland companies participating in the trade mission to Qatar and Dubai from 14-20 February 2004: